A Brief History of the Marque
1919-1945 J.S. Rasmussen (DKW) und Auto Union AG, Zschopau
1949-1958 Auto Union AG, Ingolstadt und Dusseldorf
1958-1966 Zweirad Union AG, Nurernberg
Jorge Rasmussen founded Motorenwerke Rasmussen in Zschopau, Germany in 1906, and entered the motorcycle industry with a 30cc bicycle motor in 1921 and shortly thereafter introduced 122cc Golem and 142cc Lomos scooters.
The name DKW was trademarked in 1922 and the firm went on to become one of the largest manufacturers of motorcycles in the world. By 1928 they were building some 65,000 engine units annually, and DKW engines could be found powering some 60 German marques of the interwar period.
DKW bought out the ailing Audi company in 1930 and the similarly afflicted Horch in 1932. The Horch acquisition was made in conjunction with the wealthy Wanderer marque. As the senior partner, Wanderer appointed Baron Klaus von Ouertzen as managing director.
Rasmussen was forced out of the company in 1934, and von Ouertzen fled the Nazis for South Africa in 1935.
The company was further restructured after the war, joining Victoria and Express in 1958 to form Zweirad-Union, which in turn was absorbed by Fichtel & Sachs in 1966.
DKW motorcycles employed mostly two-stroke engines and often were technically advanced.
The French Manurhin was a version of the DKW Hobby scooter.
Marques which employed DKW power units include:
Sources: Tragatsch, Wikipedia, GTU, heinkelscooter.blogspot.com, et al.
Thu, 18 Jan 2018
buckinghampw at gmail.com
DKW 1953 350-3C triple two stroke
I am building the Protar 1/9 scale kit of of the 1953 350-3C. The rear hub has two rear sprockets. Is this correct? Both sprockets have the same number of teeth.
Peter Buckingham
Canterbury, Kent United Kingdom
Tue Jun 20 2017
kerssenbergp at hotmail.co.uk
Parts
DKW 1958
Hello I'm looking to buy front and rear wheels complete with or without tyres new only and if possible exhaust complete.
London
Sat Dec 03 2016
cjmdmaynard at yahoo.ca
crankcase oil
dkw 158
how much and what kind of oil EX gear, motor ect
MB Canada
Mon May 30 2016
builderbob5 at slingshot.co.nz
125 dkw enduro
1972 125 dkw 1251 6b
i am currently restoring my dkw 125 1972 enduro and i an looking for original head light and tail light - also tank knee pads . Thanks for any help .
greg_easton at sbcglobal.net
DKW fuel tank, unknown vintage, for sale
DKW RT 250?
I have this DKW tank that i would like to get rid of. I don't know what year/model bike it came from. As close as i can tell its a mid-50s RT250. Please contact me for additional photos and description. Thank you.
CA, USA
Recommend posting this in the forums or to the Facebook page. Ed.
Wed Sep 16 2015
coastaldunes at yahoo.com
DKW Hummel Express
Hello, I am the proud owner of a 1961 dkw hummel express in original condition and running. Is there any others out there in the United States?
Milwaukie Oregon
Wed Apr 08 2015
willriv at gmail.com
1937 DKW SB500 tank badge
DKW SB500
Hello, looking for help finding parts for my DKW MC.
Arizona
Tue Aug 04 2015
karnic07 at gmail.com
DKW RT250 - Looking for Parts, please help
DKW RT250 1953 - DKW RT250
Hi All,
I own DKW RT250 and i am looking for parts to rebuild my bike. Its already in running condition but i would like to rebuild to its originality. I request you all to please help me in rebuilding my bike because I hope, you guys those how are here have much and better knowledge and would guide me right on how to fix them, since you are also crazy on these bikes just like me.
Following list of lists which is required for me, please let me.
1) Engine bore/Cyclinder.
2) Engine Piston and Piston Rings.
3) Fuel Tank rubbers on both the sides.
Please do post, if you have any other spare items.
Bangalore
Thu Mar 05 2015
c.venkatadri.westernauto at gmail.com
1932
DKW RT 125 1932
I need engine parts, head light assy and tyres for my RT 125cc DKW motorcycle. I am attaching a picture of the bike.
India
(Image omitted due low resolution)
Wed Nov 19 2014
stcal at epix.net
DKW Identification
DKW ks200?
Hello,
I recently found a picture of my grandfather (seated back) on a German motorcycle during WWII. I have researched the subject, and have found that it is definitely a DKW German motorcycle. I have contacted several museums throughout Europe, and some have emailed back with varying opinions, but no one has been able to identify this motorcycle for certain. Just wondering if you might have some insight. I am doing research on my grandfather and especially his time spent in WWII, and fitting this piece to the puzzle would be cool. Plus, my boys and I are actually thinking of trying to track down a model that is similar for purchase, even if we have to travel to Europe to get it! Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Sean T. Callahan
PA, USA
DKW-1939c-WWII-US-Army
Sat Aug 02 2014
2jermzizeb0x at gmail.com
need part for mold or to buy
dkw hummel 155 kavilier
im restoring a 1964 dkw 155 kavilier motobike thats missing the piece that sets beetween the two fule cells covering the frame & fuel cap from the seat up to just before the head of frame , the metal engine head cover ,the out side chain gaurd cover and pressed metal cover that mounts on the handel bars.sorry for poor discriptions any help finding these pieces or factor specs drawings would be great and im wiiling pay $$$$ ? these few part are all thats left an one more of these rare beauties will be complete after 3 years of working on it in my spare tim.
california
Fri Jul 18 2014
markvan-eck at skymesh.com.au
dkw 1953 rt 250h
i need a workshop manual for my '53 dkw rt 250h
australia
Thu Jul 31 2014
aleinrb at yahoo.ca
200cc DKW 2 stroke
DKW LUX ?
Do you recall whenPride and Clark bought in the DKW back in the 50`s ? they warehoused them in all manner of places..my Bro purchased one at the time, fantastic machine..
Canada
Sun May 25 2014
donnatidd at westnet.com.au
rings
dkw hobby hobby
Looking for rings
Australia
Fri May 23 2014
royparmenter at pakyns.co.uk
wiring diagram for DKW 125 Enduro
1972 DKW/Sachs Enduro
Uergently seeking a wiring diagram for a 1972 DKW/Sachs Enduro 2 stroke as cannot get it to fire!!
London
Sat May 10 2014
s.slc at btopenworld.com
spares needed
dkw nz250
Hi my friend is looking for spares for a nz 250 speedo and cable and crankshaft oil seals please email me if any one knows were I can purchase spares many thanks den
shropshire
Sun Apr 27 2014
kjell.sandvik at lofotkraft.net
Model?
DKW 250 250
Hi, I found a DKW in Norway and I do not know the model!
It has chassis number 471957 and engine number 888448
do you know what model this is and how many are produced?
I will start restauration of this motorcycle next winter and need parts.
Regards kjell uno sandvik
kjell.sandvik at lofotkraft.net
Lofoten,Norway
Mon Apr 07 2014
info at karlie.com
bike identification
DKW ? 125 ?
Archivist,
Attached are two images, will you tell me what this bike is and what is the year.
Thank you,
Denis Boyce
frame number 5053006
engine number 6045125
The front engine mount has two screws.
Try Motorcycle Serial Number Resources
Sun Apr 06 2014
thomps at optonline.net
Value, sale, parts
DKW RT250H
I have a unrestored 1953 RT250 H DKW. I am thinking about retoring it since there are only a few items missing. Also what would be the value of this bike unrestored and restored? When can I find OEM parts for it? Thank You
Jim
Shoreham N.Y
Fri Dec 06 2013
pludo76<at>bbox.fr
forFor sale te koop a vendre zu verkaufen
DKW 100 Rt
for sale te koop a vendre zu verkaufen, DKW 100 RT, DKW 20 SB, if you
want photo contact me to pludo76<at>bbox.fr
Normandie
Sat Oct 26 2013
cubaallan<at>hotmail.com
DKW MC
restoring objekt 300 cc ??
X.ovner sayd it whas from 1929,but it looks like them from 30-ties.
serialnr.162669 also on the frontplate nr. 184974
Can you identify it fore me.Thanks Allan Jensen from Bornholm Denmark
Denmark
Sun Jul 28 2013
guillaumemaenhout<at>gmail.com
technical data, manual to repair
DKW RT 250H
Best,
I'm renovating a RT 250 H. I'm from Belgium and i wood like to find
a manual, so i can restore my bike. Please let somthing know if you can
help me. Thanks
Brugge
Fri Jun 14 2013
coleleri<at>aol.com
Wiring Diagram
DKW 293 Rotary
Hi, My father is restoring a DKW 293cc rotary engined bike and is looking
for a wiring diagram. He has the engine up and running but the lights are
defeating him, can you help?
Col
(Colin L. Edwards-Freeman)
Tue Apr 02 2013
philschipp<at>optusnet.com.au
DKW MOTORCYCLE
DKW KS200
Would like to purchase a 1938 Speedometer.
Mon Feb 18 2013
josier<at>activ8.net.au
1956 DKW 350 twin motor cycle
DKW 350 twin (1956)
Would appreciate any pictures please
Australia
Sat Feb 16 2013
royparmenter<at>pakyns.co.uk
Enquiry
DKW / Hercules Enduro 125
Have just acquired what I assumed to be a restored DKW Enduro – recently
imported from California – believe it was built somewhere between 1969
& 1972. The engine # is: 9015368 and frame # on the headstock is 427004170.
One German DKW club that I contacted said it wasn't a DKW but possibly
could have been manufactured by Zweirad-Union. Another source said that
in all probability it is a DKW Hercules K125GS imported into the US between
1970-71 with a Sachs 5 speed engine & DKW ignition. On that basis I
am now trying to source some DKW / Hercules / Sachs badges or decals appropriate
to the model. Any assistance you can offer would be most appreciated.
All best
Roy
Lonodon
Images are in the DKW Owners Gallery
Wed Dec 19 2012
Bike verification
DKW / Zweirad-Union? Unknown
Have recently purchased what i thought was a DKW Enduro from california
- German DKW club thinks it might be a ZU - Eng. # 9015368 / frame # 427004170
- possibly built 1960-1973?
Images are in the DKW Owners Gallery
Mon Dec 10 2012
errol<at>air-innovations.co.za
Parts
DKW Hummel
Can anyone please let me know where to locate parts for my moped
South Africa
Sun Oct 07 2012
ratmanner<at>hotmail.com
Gearshift shaft with positive stop
DKW NZ 500
I need a gearbox gearshift shaft complete with positive stop mechanism
for a DKW NZ500
Sydney Australia
Thu Jul 26 2012
davemarkssil<at> yahoo.com
DKW twin two stroke 250cc
DKW unknown
I bought this type of bike from an apprentice at BSA when I was 18.was
told it was used after the war for ideas for future models. any history
would be appreciated now I am 75.
glasgow scotland
Sun May 20 2012
bugahorea21<at> yahoo.com
dkv for sale
dkv rt 125
i have a DKV RT 125 1952 for sale !!! for pictures contact me
to my email adress
ROMANIA
Consent y/n: yes
Mon Apr 09 2012
wanad<at>email.cz
direct injection DKW
DKW racing
I found this image as a DKW direct injection racing watter-cooled supercharged
engine. Does anybody know something about it's development and racing use?
Prague
Images are in the DKW gallery
Thu Jan 12 2012
info<at>joelblomstrand.com
DKW mod in cybermotorcycle
DKW NZ
Re questions and the pictured DKW-twinport-rigid on this address: DKW gallery
This is an NZ 250cc (or maybe 350cc), built somewhere between 1937 and 1939.
For earlier messages see DKW Message Archive
SACHS was the largest manufacturer of two-stroke motorcycle engines over
here in the fifties, sixties and seventies. These engines were used by
many motorcycle manufacturers, Hercules being
the most important of them.
HERCULES belongs to the SACHS group and the HERCULES bikes were sold under the SACHS or DKW brand in
some foreign countries. Nothing interesting to know about SACHS and HERCULES, just plain-Jane
mass-production two-stroke motorcycles. The only interesting bike HERCULES ever built was the W 2000,
which was sold in other countries as the DKW W 2000, which was the first production bike with a 27HP
SACHS rotary engine. I'll scan and send a picture of it as soon as I have found one.
Hartmut
Submitted by Hartmut Schouwer
If you have a query or information about DKW motorcycles please contact us
